Razor sharpener



May 15, 1934. J. BAUMGARTNER RAZOR SHARPENER Filed March 18, 1932 g @w1+ a @E Z u Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STTES PATENT 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a razor sharpener and more particularly to animproved means for retaining positively upon a rotating shaft the razorblade holding mechanism herein described.

At the present time razor blade sharpeners of this type will notfunction properly because there is a tendency for the blade holder,which is mounted upon a rotating shaft, to ride off the shaft and thusdefeat the function of the device.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel meansincorporated in the blade holding mechanism which will at all times, dueto its association with the rotating shaft and the structure of thisshaft, retain the blade holding mechanism positively upon the shaft at afixed position and prevent any lateral movement in relation to theshaft.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear in thefollowing specification, referv ence being had to the accompanyingdrawing, in

which Figure l is a perspective view of the invention; Figure 2 is anend view;

Figure 3 is a side View;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a front view of one half of the blade holder, and

Figure 6 is a front View of the other half.

In the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like partsthroughout the several views, 1 indicates a gear housing containing thegear 2, the idle gear 3, and the gear 4. The back face of the housing isclosed by a suitable cover plate 5 and held thereon by screws 6.

The shaft 7 is journaled in a portion 8 of the housing, and is rotatedby the crank handle 9. The shaft 7 is provided with an annular groove10. Adapted to be mounted upon the shaft '7 are the complementary platescomprising blade holders 20 and 30.

The plate 20 comprises a handle tab 21 having a raised knob 22, and abody portion 23 having the raised knobs 24 and 25. The handle tab 21 andbody 23 are joined by curved portions 26 and 26 forming an opening 2'7therebetween. It should be noted that the handle tab 21 is slightlyoffset with relation to the body 23, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The plate 30 likewise is provided with a handle tab 31, having a raisedknob 32, and a body portion 33 having the apertures 34 and 35. Thehandle tab 31 and body portion 33 are joined by a curved portion 36provided with an upset portion 37 raised therefrom a distance slightlyless than the depth of groove 10 on shaft 7. It will be seen that thebody 33 and handle tab 31 are likewise slightly offset from each other.

When the members 20 and 30 are arranged upon the shaft 9, as shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3, with the portion 36 of member 30 extending through theaperture 27 of member 20, a guideway is formed through which the shaft'7 passes with the upset portion 37 of member 30 coming to rest in thegroove 10 of shaft 7. A coil spring 40 is positioned in relation to thetabs 21 and 31 as shown in Figs.

2 and 3. The upraised portions 21 and 31 of these tabs fit within theend of the coil spring 40 and prevent its displacement. It will beobvious that the function of the coil spring is to push the tabs 21 and31 apart, and as the members 20 and 30 are pivoted about the shaft '7,this will tend to force the lower body portions 23 and 33 provided withthe upraised knobs 24 and 25 and the apertures 34 and 35 respectively,firmly together. A razor blade is firmly held between the lower portions23 and 33, the knobs 24 and 25 passing through the blade and locking inapertures 34 and 35, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. A shaft 41, keyed togear 4 and supported by journal 42, 30 carries the abrasive member 43.

The device is held in one hand by the handle 45 and by turning the crank9 and shaft 7 is caused to rotate. Gear 1 drives the idle gear 2, whichin turn drives gear 3 and shaft 41 keyed 5 thereto, and the abrasivemember 43. The members 20 and 30 by the action of coil spring 40 areretained thereon, and due to the upset portion 37 of member 36, ridingin groove 10, the members 20 and 30 are prevented from moving laterallywith respect to shaft 7.

The members 20 and 30 will rotate with the shaft '7, but as they areonly frictionally mounted thereon, they will (when the blade comes incontact with the abrasive member) cease to rotate and bear firmlyagainst the abrasive member thus sharpening one side of the blade.

By reversing the direction of rotation of handle 9, the shaft '7 willrotate in an opposite direction and carry the blade holders 20 and 30around to the other side of the abrasive member 43, which in theinterval has also changed its direction of rotation, and so will performan abrading action upon the other side of the razor blade.

I claim:

In a razor blade sharpener, the combination of, a reversible rotatableshaft having an annular groove therein, a razor blade holderfrictionally supported on said shaft and rotatable therewith havingopposed ears provided with 110 mounted on the ends thereof andpositioned within said housing, a connecting gear interposed betweensaid first mentioned gears, and an operating crank handle keyed to saidfirst shaft for rotating the same and through said intermediate gear todrive the abrasive carrying shaft, and a supporting handle fastened tosaid housing for supporting the razor sharpener.

JOHN BAUMGARTNER.

